What we learned from the new Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens teaser trailer

Star Wars fans across the world are rejoicing with the release of the second teaser trailer for Episode VII – The Force Awakens which gives us our first look in more than 30 years at Han Solo and Chewbacca.

The one minute 59 second trailer opens with a shot of a desert world – named by director JJ Abrams as Jakku and not Tatooine – with a crashed X-Wing in the foreground and a crashed star destroyer in the background will a speeder races across the sand in between.

Why was there an epic battle above Jakku between the remnants of the Empire and the Rebels?

The next voice we hear against a black screen is that of Luke Skywalker repeating what he said in Episode VI Return of the Jedi about the Force being strong in his family

Next we see shot of the melted Darth Vader helmet retrieved from the funeral pyre at the end of Return of the Jedi which sparked speculation that Darth Vader aka Anakin Skywalker may somehow still be alive. Is this the Force reawakening?

The downed star destroyer and X Wing on Jakku

Then we see the robotic hand of a hooded Luke Skywalker reaching out to touch R2D2. Luke’s hand is no longer covered in artificial flesh.

Can Darth Vader still be alive? Is this the Force awakening?

A lightsabre – believed to be the one that Luke lost along with his hand towards the end of Empire Strikes Back – is then passed from one female to another.

Luke Skywalker pats R2D2 with his robotic hand

“You have that power too,” Luke says to someone – possibly his niece or nephew – the child of Han Solo and Princess Leia.

Is this Luke’s lightsabre that he lost with his right hand in Empire Strikes Back?

Then come shots of X-Wings flying over water and then two of the new characters running from a Tie Fighter blast on what we presume is still Jakku.

Who is the mask-wearing sith lord with the cross bladed lightsabre. And why the mask? Is it a disguise? Or does he need it to breathe?

Who is the masked sith lord?

We are given another great shot of the new look stormtroopers at some sort of rally. But isn’t the Empire dead? Who’s running the show nowadays?

Tie Fighters attack the desert planet Jakku

Another interesting shot is the Tie Fighter firing on stormtroopers in a hanger – this ships could have been piloted by the character played by John Boyega who you will recall was dressed a stormtrooper and in the run in the first teaser trailer.

The new-look stormtroopers

Who the silver plated stormtrooper is is anyone’s guess. No doubt his metallic garb means he or she is more important than your regular stormtrooper.

A sliver plated stormtrooper

Then we see the Millennium Falcon pursued by Tie Fighters and flying into the wreckage of what we assumed was the wrecked star destroyer from the opening shot.

But then – the highlight of the whole trailer.

A Tie Fighter shoots up stormtroopers in a hangar

Han Solo and Chewbacca standing in what appears to be the Millennium Falcon.

“Chewie – we’re home.”

Chewbacca has his crossbow drawn and Han Solo is sporting his scoundrel grin. Has the ship been returned to them?

Han Solo and Chewbacca back onboard the Millennium Falcon

The sight of these two beloved Star Wars characters would have had hardcore fans in tears.

We only have to wait another eight months to find out the answers to all of those and many more questions.